Veterans honored at Thurston Woods

Thursday

May 16, 2013 at 2:00 PM

Several community groups came together on Wednesday to honor the veterans who are now Thurston Woods Village residents.

By Rosalie Currierrcurrier@sturgisjournal.com

Several community groups came together on Wednesday to honor the veterans who are now Thurston Woods Village residents.Sharon Huver of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 73 led the efforts with the help of Dawn Tozer. The color guard of the American Legion and VFW also participated in the ceremony as did Heartland Hospice.Pianist Valet Hartong, a regular Thurston Woods volunteer, played patriotic numbers and theme songs of branches of the armed forces prior to the ceremony. The audience would sing along, bob to the beat and clap in appreciation.Glenn Russell, Thurston Woods chaplin, greeted the group, saying, “I want to thank your generation for serving selflessly for the country and the world.”All who were able to do so stood in respect during the pledge to the flag, the national anthem and the theme songs from his or her branch of service.Sixteen veterans live at Thurston Woods — six men and one woman served in the Army; four men were Marines; two men and one woman who served in the Navy; and one man and one woman served in the Air Force. Each veteran received a flag, a lap blanket handmade by Carol Hughes or Aileen Morrison of the American Legion Auxiliary and a pin from Heartland Hospice.Wives of 22 former servicemen are also residents and were honored with a red geranium for their contributions to the country.At the close of the ceremony, the American Legion and VFW honor guards fired a 21-gun salute and played Taps for those who have died.